Sunday, 31 January 2010

I opened up randomly at Jane Austen's Letter (1997, Deidre le Faye) and found a very interesting letter, at least for myself. A very simple one here (p 142); Jane was in Castle Square, and the letter was for Cassandra.

Saturday 1 - Sunday 2 October 1808Everybody who comes to Southampton finds it either their duty or pleasure to call upon us; Yesterday we were visited by the eldest Miss Cotterel, just arrived from Waltham.

Lessons for myself this week: If you're calling or visiting someone, make sure it's for pleasure (friendship) than mere duty... It feels much better.

Now I have to go off. A friend is visiting out of pleasure/friendship, and she might need some lunch ^_^

Sunday, 24 January 2010

Thanks to our dearest Linda the Librarian, we have in announcement the hard copy version of The Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy, available since 31 Dec 2009, or just before the New Year. What an interesting New Year present! Get it in Amazon, dearest...

Also found on Google Book (Linda's been very active!) is the Notes and documents relating to the family of Loffroy, by a cadet [J.H. Lefroy]. You can download the PDF from the link. By the way, Sir John Henry Lefroy was the son of Tom Lefroy's first cousin; or the grandson of Madam Lefroy.

We find in Chapter 3 of “Emma” the description of Mrs. Bates and Miss Bates. This passage is about Miss Bates:

"Her youth had passed without distinction, and her middle of life was devoted to the care of a failing mother, and the endeavour to make a small income go as far as possible. And yet she was a happy woman, and a woman whom no one named without good-will. It was her own universal good-will and contented temper which worked such wonders. She loved every body, was interested in every body's happiness, quick-sighted to every body's merits; thought herself a most fortunate creature, and surrounded with blessings in such an excellent mother and so many good neighbours and friends, and a home that wanted for nothing. The simplicity and cheerfulness of her nature, her contented and grateful spirit, were a recommendation to every body and a mine of felicity to herself."

In this description we shall overlook the next sentence about her being a great talker. She is recommended to us mainly by her ‘love for every body’. Fortunately even in this day’s world we might even find a few of those types of persons. We should all be so. That’s my sermon for today.

Saturday, 16 January 2010

This week I am still in Chapter 2 of “Emma” where we read about poor Mr. Woodhouse’s afflictions after losing Miss Taylor:

"His own stomach could bear nothing rich, and he could never believe other people to be different from himself."

Miss Austen is said to have only had a small circle of people to draw upon to construct her characters, but I do believe that she must have had quite a lot because she has described so many people of my own acquaintance. There really are people who ‘could never believe other people to be different from themselves.’

They carry it one step further and think that everyone should agree with every thing they say and do, and more specifically they know what is best for everyone. I have known one and it can be quite embarrassing. May our gentle readers fare better.

Friday, 8 January 2010

I was (am) still in the New Year mode, so I was looking for a quote decent enough for a beginning when I opened Pride & Prejudice Volume III Chapter 19 (Penguin Classics 2003, p. 364). It was after Jane and Lizzy got married to Bingley and Darcy respectively. I found this one:

“Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelve-month. So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to his easy temper, or her affectionate heart. The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified; he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other.”

After a moment’s contemplation (actually while riding my motorbike amidst the mild traffic of Bali) I then realised that this was the quote I was looking for. For the quote tells me that if we want to start anew and afresh, we must disconnect ourselves from our past lives. Disconnection does not mean dislike, hatred or even judgement. Merely an understanding that to start anew, the old ones have to 'die' first. To be a new you, your old self must die first. Before your new life starts, your old life must fade into oblivion first.

For Jane and Bingley, it was the constant irritation of the dearly beloved Mrs. Bennet (and the cacophony of Meryton) that they must avoid to truly start a new family. Something that Lizzy and Darcy already acquired by living in Pemberley, miles away from Longbourn.

For me, I choose to leave my past behind. Embracing all the mistakes and sadness, thanking them for all the lessons they taught me, and letting them go. As the clock hit twelve, bringing 2010 to us, I chose to be a new Icha, gratefully free from her past. Not an easy journey, dare I tell you, but still a worthwhile one.

What about you? Have you thought of things, circumstances, or even people (including your old self) you must leave behind to start anew? Blessings for your journey.

Friday, 1 January 2010

The first quote of 2010 is taken from chapter 5 of Mansfield Park. The topic of the conversation is actually marriage and Mary is being flourished with some wise insight.

I think that this quote need not only apply to marriage, I think that it is applicable to life in general. At this point where we enter a new year, there are often many mixed emotions; people may feel pressure to make changes and embrace new things. I think that although this quote could be perceived as having a pessimistic stance, I actually feel that it is rather enlightening.

I like to think that sometimes fate will support us and if we have experienced dissapointment in whatever form during 2009, perhaps the natural course of life events will lead us down a new path, one with more happiness and opportunities.

"There will be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better: we find comfort somewhere."

Feeling comfort is vital in this life. I hope that all of you out there are spending time with, or thinking about loved ones at this time and that this brings you comfort.

Welcome to "Becoming Jane" Fansite!

This site is co-managed by Icha and Rachel with materials from many resources, particularly supplied by Linda, our Associate Librarian, and our co-admin Mariana.

If you have any articles or information about Jane Austen, Tom Lefroy, or Becoming Jane (or even just to say hello), please email Icha and Rachel. As long as the content rhymes with our purpose to promote the movie and fandom, we will post it here happily. Also, please sign the Radovici Petition to reprint Radovici's book on Jane and Tom.

You're welcome to use the findings we have here in online conversations (web-based), but please acknowledge us as the reference.

Thanks, and blessings to you!

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About Jane Austen

Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire.In 1789 she wrote her first novel, Love and Freindship (intentional mis-spell), amongst other very amusing juvenilia. In Dec 1795/Jan 1796, she met Thomas Langlois Lefroy, an Irishman who would often be considered an important part of her life. In 1811, Austen's first novel Sense and Sensibility was published anonymously ('By a Lady'). Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813 and received instant popularity. Despite her romantic novels, the writer herself never married. In early 1816, Austen suffered an illness (either Addison's or Hodgkin's Disease), and on 18 July 1817, she died at the age of forty-one in the arms of her sister, Cassandra, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

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Anne Hathaway’s skilful portrayal of Jane Austen in Becoming Jane shows that art can have as much power to bring us closer to the truth as facts themselves can.

Jon Spence, 4 December 2006, Becoming Jane Austen

I could certainly see why Jane would have been attracted to Tom Lefroy if he was anything like this portrayal by James McAvoy!

Sue Hughes, March 2007, Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine

McAvoy knew his portrait of Tom could only come alive with the right Jane, and he found Anne Hathaway almost supernaturally suited for the part. “I don’t think we could have chosen anyone better to play Jane Austen," he says.

Synopsis of 'Becoming Jane'

Jane Austen’s greatest love story was her own

It was at the end of 1795 when the young Jane Austen met the dashing Irish rogue Thomas Langlois Lefroy. Jane would not realise that from prejudice and innuendos between her and Tom, a fresh bud of passion would grow into love that would last for years to come, literally changing her way of looking into life and giving her new insights into her already blooming creative writing. Yet, Tom Lefroy was not a man of wealth, and thus his family needed him to find a more suitable partner than the last daughter of the Austens. Will reality defeat love, or will love triumph in Jane Austen’s life?

James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy, Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine March 2007

Source: the U.S. Official Site

‘I’m yours, Jane, heart and soul!’

~ Tom Lefroy to Jane Austen, ‘Becoming Jane’

Source: www.annie-hathaway.com

Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without affection – JA, 18 November 1814

Source: BBC UK

Nothing can be compared to the misery of being bound without Love, bound to one, & preferring another – JA, 30 November 1814

Source: www.annie-hathaway.com

There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved...

‘Persuasion’, chapter 8, Jane Austen

If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more ...

Mr. Knightley to Emma in 'Emma', Jane Austen

Source: www.annie-hathaway.com

To be so bent on marriage, to pursue a man merely for the sake of situation – is a sort of thing that shocks me.

Emma Watson, the Watsons, Jane Austen

What value would there be in life if we are not together?

~ Tom Lefroy to Jane Austen, 'Becoming Jane'

Source: Tiscali website

'Irony is the bringing together of contradictory truths to make out of the contradiction a new truth with a laugh or a smile.'

~ Jane Austen, 'Becoming Jane'

Disclaimer

Becoming Jane Fansite is a non-profit site for Becoming Janefans, created to accommodate articles, news, pictures, reviews, fan fictions, comments, etc with regards to the beautifully exclaimed Miramax movie Becoming Jane and anything related to Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy. The site is NOT an official site of 'Becoming Jane' and hence not affiliated with the movie. Yet, we hope that the site helps to immortalise your love and passions to Jane Austen, Tom Lefroy, Becoming Jane, Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julian Jarrold and all crews and casts of the enchanting movie. The administrators reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments/messages.

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The film Becoming Jane has given us an image of Jane Austen that liberates our imagination. I envy readers of my book who come to it with Anne Hathaway’s image of Jane in their mind’s eye. You will not have to struggle against the image Cassandra created to see the Jane Austen who was young and pretty, lively and in love. Anne Hathaway’s skilful portrayal of Jane Austen in Becoming Jane shows that art can have as much power to bring us closer to the truth as facts themselves can.